Spring-leaf-forming mechanism



Sept. 16, 1930. c. PETERSON 1,775,033

SPRING LEAF FORMING MECHANISM Wil/ll. Ill/IL v Sept. 16, 1930. C. PETERSON l 1,776,083

SPRING LEAF FORMING MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1927 2 ShO'CtS-Sheet 2 l E i Y 6R I i 52 I are 0 @a ,A 3f r i 69 '7 85 84 'M Q 8a.

75 s 82 Inf WHFHUMHHH IPH W8, y? 7,; :ri mm 68 74 l 68 e8 73 74 724 25' o 72 7e /7 lg l 7a 4 A v xmmmm 7 \\\\\\\"W\\\\\\\\W\\\\\\\`W\\\\\\\W\\\\\\\\ 75 l 74 74 Ie E Y.:

Cari .peensoa Patented sept. 16, 1930 `UNITED STATES CARIJ PETERSON, or JAMAICA main,

MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoR To GEORG y LAWRENCE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS Y' SRRING-LEAF-RQRMING MECHANISM" l .y

Application led July 28,

My invention aims to provide improvements in spring-forming machines andmore particularly to that part of the machine used for bending a spring leaf to a desired form.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is an elevation showing the lower portion of a spring leaf-bending and tempering machine, the upper part of the machine being omitted;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation show- .ing a portion of the cable, the center support, one of the end supportsand a portion of the supporting frame; i v

Fig. 3 is a detail view, being partly in crosssection to show one of the pulleys and the means for adjusting it `upon its Vcarrying sleeve;

Fig. t is a section on the line H of Fig. 3 showing the supporting means for the cables in cross-section, the pulleys and equalizing means in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a section through a portion of one of the cables, the stud strand being shown in elevation; and n Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing` one of the presser members.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention, as illustrated by the drawings, I have shown a spring leaf-forming mechanism Vwhich may be used in connection with any type of machine to which it may be adapted. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown l the forming mechanism as it is used in connection with a machine substantially the same as shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 125,113, filed July 26, 1926. I have shown only enough of that machine to enable those skilled in the art to understand the operation of the present invention.

For the purposes of the present application, I have shown a portion of the frame including the upright parts 8, the sliding cross-bars 5, 6 and 7, the toggle'link arrange- ,1927.1 Serial N'o. 208,967.

ment 19a, the strips 21 connecting thebars 5 and 7, a portion of the rack rod 22, the links 23aM connecting the toggles 19a with the rack rod 22, the block 56, the hand wheels 54.-, threaded shafts 52 and the die meanscarried by the lower cross-bar` 7. The die means include the adjustable dies 9, the ratchet wheels 14e and releasing lever 17. 'Ihe oil tank 1, into which the spring, when formed, is lowered, is also shown. f

The numerals used in the `above description correspond tothe numerals used in designating the jsame parts described in the above mentioned application.

Referring now to my invention, as intended to be covered bythe present application, I have shown cable means mounted upon the cross-bar 6. This cable means includes two parallelly arranged cables A having their ends secured in sleeves 60, the sleeves being securedv to equalizing members 61 ypivoted upon the sliding pins` 62 mounted in the blocks 63 secured to the cross-bar 6, asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each pin 62 has a spring 64 associated therewith and interposed between the plate 65 and the washer 66 `to provide rvspring cushions. Thusthe cablesA are resiliently mounted upon the cross-bar 6. The

nuts 67 threaded upon the upper ends ofthe pins 62 provide means for varying the tension of the springs.

The -cables member 61 around pulleys 68, supported vby A extend from one equalizing the bracket 69 hung from the cross-bar6 (Fig. 1), then tothe centrally located supporting element70 where two connections are made between each cable and the element 70. The cables then extend around another set of pulleys 68a, supported by the bracket 69a, to the other equalizing member 61. The brackets 69 and 69a` are braced by the link pieces 71, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each cable A comprises the stranded steel Vcable 7 2having arranged thereon a series of ball-like members of two sizes. The larger ball-like members 7 3 make spaced joint contact with the spring leaf B (Fig. l) and the small ball-like members 74 provide spacers and have their ends iitted into the larger members 73 (Fig. 5) to provide ball and socket joints. rihe steel cable is flexible, and the ball and socket joints between the balllike members 73 make it possible to bend the cables A into any desired shape.

Some spring leaves must be provided with concave portions adjacent their ends and in order to press the cables A against the spring leaf B to press itinto the depressions, provided by the die means, I have provided the shoes or pressers 75. These pressers are pivotally secured to rods 76 slidably mounted in the blocks 77 secured to the cross-bar 6 and springs 78 are provided to press the pressers toward the cables A, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The blocks 77 are provided with the ears 79 which make threaded engagement `with the shafts 52'to permit longitudinal adjustment of the pressers 7 5.`

V The central supporting elementO is slidably mounted inthe carrying part 58 secured to the cross-bar 6, as shownin Fig.'2. Two of the larger ball-like members 73 in each cable assembly are provided with shank portions73"L connected through pin and slot means to the supportingelement 70, as shown in Fig. 2. Y

The pulleys68 and 68aare mounted upon sleeves 81 (Fig. 4) and the pulleys inthe set 68 and the set 68a arev slidable toward 'and away from each other to adapt the cables to'various'width spring leaves. The adjustment of the pulleys is secured bymeans of yokes 82 mountedupon right and left-hand threaded shafts 83 secured in' the brackets 69 and 69a. By turning the wrench-receiving portion 83a of the threaded shafts 83 (Fig. 4) in one direction or the other the adjustment Lof the cables may be made. The yokes lit into the grooves in the pulleys so that movement of the yokes provides for the movementof the pulleys. Y

lIn Voperating the mechanism above dei'scribedQI first adjust the die members 9 to the desired form to which the spring leaf is to be bent. The die members 9 maybe roughly adjusted to a templet by lifting them by hand and then securing a more perfect adjustment tothe templet by rotating the ratchet wheels 14 in substantiallythe same manner as more fully set forth and described in my co-pending application above referred to.v After the die members 9 have been adjust-ed to the form ofthe templet, the templet may be removed and the die members will present a form towhieh a springleafisto be shaped.

Next I place the hot spring leaf B upon the die means and set the machine in operation, sothat the rack rod 22 will operate the toggle means to move the cross-bar 6 toward the ldie means. Any suitable means may be used to drive the rack rod. During this movement of the bar 6, the cable means is brought into contact with the spring leaf B. As the bar 6 continues toward the die means the cable means bends the spring leaf to conform to the shape of the die means. During this operation, the cable means is drawn tightly against the spring leaf and the springs 64 yield to prevent breaking of the cables A and the equalizing members 6l may rock to equalize the strain on both cable assemblies.

The universal movement of the ball-like members 73 and 74 permits them to conform exactly to the shape of the die means and the contact made between the large ball-like members 7 3 and the `spring leaf B is only at spaced points. Thus, when the spring is lowered into a oil in the tank l for tempering,

practically all the upper surface of the spring leaf is exposed to the action of the oil. `lheball-.like members do not extend the entire length of each of the steel'cables and, therefore, springs 84 are interposed between the ball-.like members and the equalizing means 6l (Figs. 3 and 4') to keep themincontact. o

If a spring is to be formed with the concave portions at the ends, as shown in Figure l,

the shoes or pressers `75, which are wide enough to span both cables A (Fig.` 6,)y and which engage the larger ball-like members Y73, press the cables into the desired shape. The heavy springs 78 are compressed during the pressing together operation and arev strong enough to overcome the pull on the cables by the springs 64. f y

The above described improvements inV spring-forming means are simple in opera. tion and durable and the peculiar construction and mountingof the cable meansis eX- ceedingly efficient in operation, while at the same time providing the least amount of interference possible with the tempering of the spring leaves. 7

1While I have shown .and described a preferred embodiment of my'invention it .should be-understood that I do not wish to be limited thereby,-my invention being best defined in the following claims. Claims:

l. A spring leaf formin mechanismincluding a series of iii-depen ently adjustable elements providing a form towhich aV spring leaf may be shaped, and cable means niounted for pressing the spring leaf to the shape of the form `provided by said elements,"said cable means having a plurality of ball and socket elements carried thereby and arranged to make spaced contact with the spring leaf thereby to expose a maximum of the spring leaf surface.

2. A spring leaf forming mechanism including means providing a form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, and 'cable means mounted for pressing thespring leaf tothe shape of the means providing the form, said cable means having a plurality of ballslike members adapted to make only spaced ioint contacts with the spring leaf, thereby to eX- pose a maximum of the springleaf surface.

8. A spring leaf forming mechanism including means providing a form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, and cable means mounted for pressing the spring leaf to the shape of the means providing the form, said cable means having a plurality of balllike members making ball and socket contact for universal movement relative to each other.

Il. A spring leaf forming mechanism including means providing a form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, and cable means mounted for pressing the spring leaf to the shape of the means providing the form and a yieldably mounted presser member slidable longitudinally relative to said cable means and adapted to engage the cable means to press the spring leaf into a depression provided by the form means.

5. A spring leaf forming mechanism comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of cross-bar members supported by said frame, a series of independently adjustable elements carried by and adjustable relative to one of said cross-bar members Vto provide a form against which a spring leaf may be formed, yieldable cable means resiliently mounted upon the other of said cross-bar members for pressing the spring leaf against said form, said cable means including a wire cable and a series of ball and socket members car.

ried by said wire cable and means for movin g one of said cross-bar members relative to the other.

6. A spring leaf forming mechanism com'- prising, in combination, a frame, a pair of cross-bar members supported by said frame, means carried by and adjustable relative to one of said cross-bar members to provide a form against which a spring leaf may be pressed, a pair of cables supported by the other of said cross-bars for pressing the spring leaf against said form, yieldable means mounted on the same cross-bar member as said cables and secured to said cables and adjustable means for laterally .adjusting said cables toward and away from eachother.l

v 7 A spring leaf forming mechanism comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of sliding cross-bar members supported by said frame, means carried by and adjustable relative to one of said cross-bar members to provide a form against which a spring leaf may be formed, a pair of cables for pressing the spring leaf against said form andequalizing means connected between the ends of said cables and the other of said cross-bars to equalize the pressure on said cables when contacted with the spring leaf.

8. A spring leaf forming mechanism compr-ising, in combination, a frame, a pair of be formed, a pair of lcablesfor pressing 4the slidin'g'cross-ba'r members supported'by said frame, means carried by andadjustable relative to one of said cross-'bar members to pro'- Vide a form against" which a spring leaf may spring :leaf againstsaid form, br'acket means secured to the other of saidfcrossbars and carrying pulleys supporting ysaidy cables,

resilient means interposed between said cables and said last mentioned cross-bar, means for adjusting said pulleys toward and away from each other axially to adjust said cables to various width spring leaves and spring leaf may be shaped and cable means including two parallelly arranged cables mounted for pressing the spring leaf to the shape of the means providing the form7 equalizing means located at the ends of the cables and adjusting means adapted to adjust the cables to various width springs.

11. A spring leaf forming mechanism including means providing a form to which a spring leaf maybe shaped and cable means vincluding two parallelly arranged cables mounted for pressing the spring leaf to the shape of the means providing the form, equalizing means located at the ends of the cables, adjusting means adapted to adjust'- the cables to various width springs and presser means adjustable lengthwise of the cables for pressing portions of the cables against said form means.

l2. A spring leaf forming mechanism in-l cluding the individually adjustable form elements 9 and the ball and socket cable means A for pressing a spring leaf to the shape of a form provided vby said form elements.

13. A spring vleaf forming mechanism including the adjustable form means 9, the ball andk socket cable means A for pressing a spring leaf to the shape of said form means, and the yieldably mounted pressers 75 mounted for longitudinal adjustment relative to" the cable means A for pressing the cable means against the spring leaf.

14E. A spring leaf forming mechanism including the individually adjustable form elements 9, the ball and socket cable means Av.; for pressing a spring leaf to the shape of a form provided by said form elements, and the tension means 64 and 8O which prevent breaking ofthe cable means A when forced toward said form elements.

175.j.A spring'leaf :formi-ng mechanism includirig`- the' djustableiform means 9, the

cable means A includingtwo ball and socketlike Cables arranged side by side for pressing a spring leaf to theshap'e of-said formmeans, a1idft-he-equfi1iz-ing means 61 to which the ends ofthe cable `means' A nre secured. *A

,In -testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speeifcion'.

' CARL PETERSGN. 

